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U.S. Air Supremacy Grows Amid Rising Civilian Casualties

3/6/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States is gaining air superiority over Iran.
Hegseth said U.S. and Israeli forces have struck more than 2,000 targets.
He compared the operation's intensity to the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Reports indicate rising civilian casualties, including 175 deaths from a strike on a girls' school.
Iranian officials condemned the actions as war crimes.

History

Historical Context

The 2003 Iraq War began on March 20, when a U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq, aiming to dismantle Saddam Hussein's regime under claims of weapons of mass destruction. The swift military campaign resulted in Baghdad's fall on April 9, but it also ignited a prolonged insurgency, leading to over 150,000 deaths and ongoing geopolitical instability, reflecting the complexities of U.S. foreign interventions.

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Story summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States is gaining air superiority over Iran.
Hegseth said U.S. and Israeli forces have struck more than 2,000 targets.
He compared the operation's intensity to the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Reports indicate rising civilian casualties, including 175 deaths from a strike on a girls' school.
Iranian officials condemned the actions as war crimes.

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